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sterling silver

British  

noun

  1. an alloy containing not less than 92.5 per cent of silver, the remainder usually being copper

  2. sterling-silver articles collectively

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
sterling silver Scientific  
/ stûr′lĭng /

  1. An alloy that contains at least 92.5 percent silver and up to 7.5 percent copper or another metal, used to make jewelry and silverware.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Other highlights include a sterling silver exemplar of “Box of Smile,” which is a small box containing a mirror inside.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2025

She has an eagle eye for clothing with “100% cotton” on the tag or sterling silver jewelry stamped with a tiny “925,” indicating the quality of material.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 19, 2025

"It's crazy as our websites are completely different. I sell sterling silver, dainty pieces and engagement jewellery," she said.

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

Paul O’Neill, Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter gave video tributes, Tino Martinez presented sterling silver Yankees cufflinks and Kay and Waldman an engraved silver microphone.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 20, 2024

I go through the box and find Papa’s sterling silver pocket watch and rub the figure of the fisherman standing in a rowboat.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.